Number of Players:
2 or More
Age Groups:
Rangers/Middies and Older
Area to Play:
Bonzo Wall on Boy Side
Required Items:
Bonzo Ball
Before the game begins, players make a line on the side of the Bonzo Court. The first player then begins serving the ball. This is done by bouncing the ball once towards the wall. When the ball returns to them, they continue the game as usual. If a player misses or messes up their serve, this is considered a "Fault." The number of faults the server gets is determined before the game begins.
The game is continued by players hitting the ball towards the wall with only 1 bounce in between until a player gets eliminated. The "Rules" section below describes how a player can be eliminated. Once a player hits the ball without being eliminated, they return to the back of the line to continue playing.
When a player is eliminated, the game stops and the player who was ahead of the eliminated player in the line serves the ball. The goal of Bonzo Ball is to be the last player remaining in the game.
Ways a player can be eliminated:
The player doesn't make contact with the ball when it is their turn
After a player hits the ball, it goes out of bounds (before or after it hits the wall)
After a player hits the ball, it bounces more than once before hitting the wall
After a player hits the ball, it doesn't bounce at all before hitting the wall
If someone gets in the way of a player being able to hit the ball, this is considered an "interference" and the game begins again as usual without any players being eliminated.
If the ball hits directly in the corner between the wall and the floor, this is considered a "trap" and the game begins again as usual without any players being eliminated.
Additional Rules
Slam Rule - The ball has to be hit past the white horizontal line on a serve.
Watermelon - If a player goes under the ball after the previous players turn and says "Watermelon," this skips the players turn.
At least one counselor should be watching the game and judging whether a player is eliminated or not as well as keeping the line from interfering with the game.
Another counselor should be supervising the eliminated players and making sure that they have a game to play until the Bonzo game ends. (Nearby: Gaga Ball, Field Games on Boy Side, Game Tent)